US and Afghanistan Agree on Language for Bilateral Security Agreement

The United States and Afghanistan have agreed on the final language of a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) that will help determine the role of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan post-2014. The agreement is now being considered by the Loya Jirga, a council composed of 2500 members including Afghan political, community, business, youth and non-profit organization leaders.

The agreement also does not specify the number of U.S. troops that would remain in Afghanistan in training, advisory and assistance capacity after 2014, nor does it specify how long U.S. troops would stay in the country. In June 2013, U.S. and NATO transferred security and combat responsibilities to the Afghan armed forces, began the drawdown of their troops, and remain for training and advisory missions.

Presidents Obama and Karzai had signed, in May 2013, a ten-year Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the two countries which included "U.S. commitments to support Afghanistan's social and economic development, security, institutions, and regional cooperation." Afghanistan committed "to strengthen accountability, transparency, oversights, and to protect human rights of all Afghans - men and women." The SPA required a BSA be negotiated.

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